Career and Education Opportunities for Air Traffic Controllers in Irving, Texas

For those living in the Irving, Texas area, there are many career and education opportunities for air traffic controllers. There are currently 2,710 working air traffic controllers in Texas; this should grow by 26% to 3,420 working air traffic controllers in the state by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for air traffic controllers are expected to grow by about 13.1%. Air traffic controllers generally control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies.

The income of an air traffic controller is about $56 hourly or $118,400 annually on average in Texas. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $53 per hour or $111,870 per year on average. Compared with people working in the overall category of Air, people working as air traffic controllers in Texas earn more. They earn more than people working in the overall category of Air nationally.

There are eighty-three schools of higher education in the Irving area, including one within twenty-five miles of Irving where you can get a degree to start your career as an air traffic controller. Air traffic controllers usually hold a high school diploma or GED, so it will take only a short time to learn to be an air traffic controller if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Air Traffic Controller

Air Traffic Controller video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, air traffic controllers control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. They also authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.

Air traffic controllers monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, and visual references. They also inform pilots about nearby planes as well as potentially hazardous conditions such as weather, speed and direction of wind, and visibility problems. Equally important, air traffic controllers have to maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, and other area control centers so as to direct aircraft movement. They are often called upon to alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency and when aircraft are experiencing difficulties. They are expected to monitor and direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space and on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety. Finally, air traffic controllers transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.

Every day, air traffic controllers are expected to be able to split focus between different tasks. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they understand what others are saying to them even in a noisy environment.

It is important for air traffic controllers to initiate and direct searches for missing aircraft. They are often called upon to issue landing and take-off authorizations and instructions. They also compile data related to flights from flight plans and observations. They are sometimes expected to direct pilots to runways when space is available, or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land. Somewhat less frequently, air traffic controllers are also expected to initiate and direct searches for missing aircraft.

They also have to be able to relay to control centers such air traffic data as courses and expected arrival times and furnish flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations. And finally, they sometimes have to examine and control radio equipment and airport lights.

Like many other jobs, air traffic controllers must be able to deal with stress and deal with situations calmly and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Irving include:

Air Cargo Supervisor. Direct ground crew in the loading, unloading, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity. May accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures.

Airline Pilot. Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport rating and certification in specific aircraft type used.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Air Traffic Controller Training

Mountain View College - Dallas, TX

Mountain View College, 4849 W Illinois, Dallas, TX 75211-6599. Mountain View College is a medium sized college located in Dallas, Texas. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,126 students. Mountain View College has a one to two year and an associate's degree program in Air Traffic Controller.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Irving, Texas

Irving, Texas photo by Ansem27

Irving is located in Dallas County, Texas. It has a population of over 201,358, which has grown by 5.1% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Irving, 91, is below the national average. New single-family homes in Irving cost $273,600 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, four hundred fifty-seven new homes were built in Irving, down from seven hundred ninety-five the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Irving are finance and insurance, educational services, and health care. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 24 minutes. More than 30.0% of Irving residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 10.2%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Irving is 7.8%, which is less than Texas's average of 8.1%.

The percentage of Irving residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 55.1%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. African Baptist Church of Irving, Plymouth Park Church and Chapel of the Bells Church are all churches located in Irving. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Irving is home to the Dallas Gun Club and the Trinity Valley Marketplace as well as Senter Park and Revere Park. Shopping centers in the area include Irving Shopping Center, Plymouth Park Shopping Center and MacArthur Park Shopping Center. Visitors to Irving can choose from American Hospitality Services Corporation, Best Western DFW Airport and Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas for temporary stays in the area.